S-ewage  Disposal  of  Los  Angeles. 


- 


• ■ 


siwasir'  of  iu.w«3 : 


JUL  ^19- 


Report  of  Engineers 

Regarding  the 

Disposal  of  Sewage 

of  the 

City  of  Los  Angeles 

California 


a.3 

L8°)<bA> 

Contents 

1.  Introduction. 

2.  Report  of  City  Engineer  to  Council  on  June  23,  1921. 

3.  Copy  of  Report  regarding  North  Outfall  Sewer  taken  front' 

Annual  Report  of  City  Engineer  for  year  ending  Tune  30, 
1921. 

4.  Report  of  City  Engineer  to  Council  on  August  27,  1921. 

5.  Sewage  Disposal  in  Eastern  Cities. 


Published  by  the 

Los  Angeles  Sewage  Disposal  Committee 
October,  1921 


Book  No.  2 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/reportofengineerOOIosa 


Introduction 

After  the  publication  in  March,  1921,  of  the  Reference  Book  for  the 
proposed  North  Outfall  Sewer  for  the  City  of  Los  Angeles,  arrangements 
were  made  by  the  City  Council  to  obtain  a report  from  the  best  sanitary 
engineers  available,  as  it  became  apparent  that  the  opposition  to  the  proposed 
outfall  sewer  required  as  much  enlightenment  on  the  subject  of  sewage  dis- 
posal as  could  be  obtained  from  the  highest  authorities.  Mr.  George  W. 
Fuller,  of  New  York  City,  Professor  George  C.  Whipple,  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity, Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  Mr.  William  Mulholland,  Chief  Engineer  of  the 
Los  Angeles  Water  Department,  were  selected  by  the  Council  as  a Special 
Sewage  Disposal  Commission.  The  two  first  mentioned  are  eminent  sanitary 
engineers  of  national  reputation,  and  Mr.  Mulholland  is  well  known  as  the 
builder  of  the  Los  Angeles  aqueduct. 

This  Commission  made  a very  thorough  examination  of  the  situation  in 
Los  Angeles  in  April,  and  submitted  the  first  two  parts  of  its  report  to  the 
Los  Angeles  City  Council  on  April  16,  1921.  As,  however,  more  data  was 
required  by  the  Commission,  the  City  Engineer,  working  under  its  direction, 
obtained  considerable  additional  information,  which  was  sent  east,  for  its 
use.  The  Commission  further  requested  that  Major  John  A.  Griffin,  City 
Engineer,  and  Mr.  W.  T.  Knowlton,  Engineer  of  Sewers,  meet  them  in  New 
York  in  May  and  assist  in  the  preparation  of  their  final  report:  This  meet- 
ing, however,  was  delayed  until  the  middle  of  July. 

The  report  of  the  City  Engineer  of  January  17,  1921,  recommending  the 
North  Outfall  Sewer,  gave  the  amount  of  $12,850,000  as  the  estimated  cost  of 
the  work,  which  included  the  construction  of  a sewage  treatment  plant  at 
Hyperion.  In  the  first  part  of  its  report  the  Special  Sewage  Commission 
recommended  that  the  proposed  Bond  Issue  be  increased  to  $14,000,000  to 
provide  for  improvements  at  the  end  of  the  existing  sewer  outfall  at  Hyperion, 
to  insure  the  outfall  sewer  being,  as  far  as  possible,  acid  proof,  and  to  enable 
a start  at  once  on  sewage  treatment  and  utilization.  The  Council,  however, 
in  apportioning  the  different  amounts  to  the  various  projects  which  were  to 
be  submitted  for  a Bond  Issue  election  on  June  7,  cut  the  amount  proposed 
for  the  outfall  sewer  to  $12,250,000.  On  June  7 the  election  was  held  and  the 
Sewer  Bond  Issue  was  defeated.  Only  38%  of  the  total  votes  cast  were  in 
favor  of  the  issue,  whereas  67%  was  required  to  successfully  carry  the  bond 
election. 

This  defeat  made  it  necessary  to  submit  an  alternative  plan  to  provide  for 
the  relief  of  the  present  overtaxed  outfall  sewer,  and  on  June  23d  the  City 
Engineer  submitted  a report  to  the  Council  outlining  such  a plan,  which  is 
given  in  full  in  this  publication.  In  this  report  of  June  23d  the  City  Engineer 
recommended  that  the  Council  at  once  have  him  confer  with  the  Eastern 
members  of  the  Special  Sewage  Commission,  and  also  investigate  the  later 
developments  of  the  sewage  disposal  plants  in  Eastern  cities.  This  request 
was  granted  by  the  Council,  and  Major  Griffin,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Knowl- 
ton, made  an  inspection  of  the  sewage  disposal  plants  in  a large  number  of 
the  Eastern  cities.  Soon  after  his  return,  the  City  Engineer  submitted  on 
August  27th,  a report  of  the  sanitary  conditions  found  in  the  East.  This 
report  in  a general  way  confirmed  the  plan  he  proposed  on  June  23d,  making  a 
few  changes  and  giving  a total  estimate  of  $3,450,000  as  the  amount  required 
for  a bond  election  for  sewage  treatment  and  disposal.  It  should  be  thor- 
oughly understood  that  this  amount  will  provide  for  the  treatment  of  only 
the  present  flow  in  the  outfall  sewer  and  that  at  the  end  of  three  or  four  years 
an  additional  bond  issue  will  be  needed  to  take  care  of  the  excess  sewage, 

•5 


which  unless  provided  for  will  again  cause  the  outfall  sewer  to  overflow.  If, 
however,  the  results  attained  by  the  construction  of  sewage  treatment  plants 
during  the  next  three  or  four  years  are  not  successful,  an  ocean  outfall  can  be 
built  at  a minimum  expense. 

In  the  following  pages  is  given  the  above  mentioned  reports  of  the  City 
Engineer  for  June  23d  and  August  27th  ; also  the  complete  report  of  the  con- 
ditions he  found  on  the  Eastern  trip  which  should  be  of  especial  interest  on 
account  of  the  numerous  photographs.  An  abstract  of  the  report  of  Mr. 
Knowlton,  concerning  the  North  Outfall  Sewer,  taken  from  the  Annual  Report 
of  the  City  Engineer  for  the  past  fiscal  year,  is  also  given.  It  is  intended 
that  the  complete  report  of  the  Special  Sewage  Disposal  Commission  will  be 
published  as  soon  as  the  final  report  from  this  Commission  has  been  sub- 
mitted to  the  Council.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  voters  of  Los  Angeles,  with 
these  two  publications  on  the  disposal  of  sewage  of  Los  Angeles  at  hand,  will 
be  sufficiently  enlightened  to  comprehend  the  seriousness  of  the  situation. 


y Engineer  to  Council 


June  23,  1921 


Office  of  the  City  Engineer,  Los  Angeles,  California,  June  23,  1921. 

To  the  Honorable  Council  of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles : 

Gentlemen : 

I beg  to  again  call  your  attention  to  the  condition  of  the  outfall  sewer,  the 
flow  in  which  is  increasing  at  such  a rate  that,  unless  some  relief  is  provided 
in.  the  near  future,  the  outfall  sewer  will  probably  be  under  pressure  during 
most  of  the  day,  and  will  in  the  middle  of  the  day  overflow  onto  the  ground 
adjoining  it  in  certain  portions  of  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city  before 
the  end  of  the  next  two  years.  On  account  of  the  recent  defeat  of  the  bond 
issue  for  a new  outfall  sewer,  it  is  necessary  to  immediately  consider  the  next 
alternative  plan  of  relieving  this  overtaxed  condition.  Even  though  it  will 
ultimately  cost  more,  its  initial  expense  is  about  one-third  of  the  outfall 
sewer  cost.  This  plan  consists  of  having  a treatment  plant  installed  near 
the  southeastern  portion  of  the  city,  where  all  of  the  sewage  from  the  main 
sewer  which  now  crosses  the  Los  Angeles  river  at  Boyle  Avenue  could  be 
diverted  and  treated  by  the  activated  sludge  process.  This  plan  would  be 
in  accord  with  the  recommendations  of  the  Special  Sewage  Commission  em- 
ployed last  March  by  your  Honorable  Body  to  report  on  the  matter  of 
sewage  treatment  and  disposal  for  Los  Angeles.  As  the  amount  of  sew- 
age which  would  be  so  intercepted  and  treated  at  this  plant  at  the  present 
time  would  not  exceed  1,000,000  gallons  per  day,  I have  considered  that  a 
similar  process  of  treatment  could  be  installed  at  another  plant  to  be  built  in 
the  southwestern  portion  of  the  city,  where,  at  the  present  time,  approxi- 
mately 10,500,000  gallons  of  sewage  could  be  diverted  through  an  intercepting 
sewer  from  the  outfall  sewer  and  treated. 

By  the  removal  of  this  total  flow  of  11,500,000  gallons  per  day  from  the 
outfall  sewer,  it  would  be  temporarily  relieved,  at  least  for  18  months,  and  I 
have  estimated  that  to  divert  and  treat  a total  flow  of  31,000,000  gallons  of 
sewage  per  day,  the  outfall  sewer  could  be  relieved  for  a period  of  about  three 
years.  If,  in  the  meantime,  the  results  obtained  by  this  treatment  should 
prove  satisfactory,  other  units  could  be  added  to  the  plants  at  each  of  these 
locations  as  required,  which  would  prevent  the  outfall  sewer  from  again 
becoming  overtaxed,  providing  subsequent  bond  issues  are  voted.  The  cost 


6 


of  the  necessary  diverting  sewers  required  at  the  present  time  to  take  sewage 
to  the  proposed  treatment  plants,  together  with  the  cost  of  units  required  at 
said  plants  for  the  treatment  of  31,000,000  gallons  per  day,  is  estimated  at 
approximately  $3,250,000.  In  addition  thereto,  a sufficient  amount  should  be 
allowed  to  pay  for  the  maintenance  and  operation  of  the  units  required  for 
these  treatments  plants.  As  the  discharge  from  the  end  of  the  present  outfall 
sewer  would  not  be  treated  by  either  of  these  proposed  plants,  it  would  be 
necessary  to  install  either  a screening  plant  or  still  another  activated  sludge 
plant  at  Hyperion  to  remove  the  cause  of  complaint  of  the  residents  of  the 
beach  cities  on  the  west  coast.  The  cost  of  this  screening  or  treatment 
should  be  included  with  the  above  costs,  making  a total  of  approximately 
$4,150,000,  which  would  be  the  approximate  amount  of  a bond  issue  required 
at  this  time.  These  costs,  however,  to  be  better  determined  after  a thorough 
investigation  of  all  the  principal  eastern  plants. 

If  this  plan  for  relieving  the  outfall  sewer  should  be  adopted,  rather  than 
the  construction  of  the  proposed  outfall  sewer,  subsequent  bond  issues  would 
be  required  to  pay  for  the  cost  of  additional  activated  sludge  treatment  units 
of  sufficient  capacity  to  prevent  the  outfall  sewer  from  becoming  overtaxed, 
after  the  increased  discharge  of  sewage  from  the  ever-growing  city  had 
reached  the  maximum  flow  which  could  be  treated  by  the  plant  units  installed 
by  the  proposed  bond  issue  of  approximately  $4,150,000,  and  by  subsequent 
bond  issues. 

As  shown  in  my  report  to  your  Honorable  Body  of  June  6,  1921,  the 
installation  and  operation  of  such  treatment  plants  would  prove  much  more 
costly  to  the  tax  payers  of  the  city  of  Los  Angeles  at  the  end  of  the  thirty- 
year  period,  for  which  the  proposed  outfall  sewer  was  planned,  than  would 
the  proposed  outfall.  This  statement  is  borne  out  by  preliminary  estimates 
of  costs  I have  prepared,  which  show  the  amount  of  money  required  to  be 
obtained  at  different  intervals  (by  bond  issues)  to  treat  the  excess  sewage 
which  would  overtax  the  outfall  sewer  and  which  must  be  cared  for.  These 
estimates  also  show  that  a large  deficit  would  occur  annually  which  will 
render  the  project  unpracticable  from  the  viewpoint  of  the  financial  condition 
of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles. 

In  order,  however,  that  an  extended  study  of  this  matter  may  be  obtained, 
I recommend  that  I be  authorized  by  your  Honorable  Body  to  visit  and  inves- 
tigate the  different  plants  of  the  activated  sludge  type  which  have  been 
installed  in  other  cities  in  the  eastern  and  central  portions  of  the  country. 
Such  a study  is  necessary  if  I am  to  prepare  plans  for  such  units  to  be  built 
and  operated  at  a minimum  cost,  and  is  in  accord  with  the  request  of  the 
Special  Sewage  Commission. 

The  accompanying  map  shows  the  general  location  of  the  plants  which 
could  be  installed ; also  the  proposed  outfall  sewer,  which  was  planned  to 
provide  for  the  removal  of  sewage  from  two  of  the  large  sections  of  a general 
metropolitan  sewerage  district,  i.  e.,  the  central  and  northern  sections.  In 
connection  with  the  plans  prepared  for  a new  outfall  sewer,  I gave  much 
study  to  the  subject  of  a future  metropolitan  sewerage  district,  the  north  and 
central  sections  of  which  must  be  provided  for  at  the  present  time.  At  some 
future  time,  when  it  becomes  necessary  to  provide  for  the  removal  of  sewage 
from  that  portion  of  the  metropolitan  district  designated  on  the  maps  as  the 
northeast  section,  which  lies  between  the  easterly  boundary  of  the  City  of 
Los  Angeles  and  the  San  Gabriel  River,  and  extends  from  the  mountains 
southerly  to  a line  along  that  portion  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  which  is 
located  between  the  southeast  corner  of  the  city  and  Los  Nietos,  an  outfall 
sewer  can  be  planned  which  will  remove  the  sewage  from  this  section  and 
treat  it  at  some  location  near  the  southerly  boundary  of  the  section,  or  carry 

7 


it,  by  an  extention  of  the  outfall  for  this  section,  southerly  along  the  line  of 
the  Los  Angeles  river  to  the  ocean  on  the  south  coast.  Sewage  from  the  so- 
called  south  section  of  the  metropolitan  sewerage  district,  which  is  located 
south  of  Manchester  Avenue  and  the  portion  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  above 
described,  could  be  intercepted  by  laterals  draining  into  such  a proposed 
outfall  sewer. 

With  reference  to  the  beach  sections  shown  on  the  accompanying  map, 
I have  considered  that  local  treatment  of  the  sewage  of  the  several  cities  in 
these  sections  can  be  planned  at  different  locations  on  the  west  and  south 
coasts,  although  it  is  believed  that  the  sewage  of  the  cities  on  the  west  coast 
can  best  be  collected  at  Hyperion,  as  I have  reported  at  various  times  during 
the  past. 

Since  the  filing  of  the  first  portions  of  the  report  of  the  Special  Sewage 
Commission,  I have  furnished  the  Eastern  members  of  this  Commission 
certain  data  they  have  requested  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  their  final  report, 
and,  in  connection  with  this  final  report,  I beg  to  advise  that  these  engineers 
have  requested  that  I arrange  to  meet  them  in  the  East,  for  the  purpose  of 
conferring  in  regard  to  the  details  of  their  proposed  plans  for  the  installation 
and  operation  of  the  activated  sludge  treatment  plants  herein  suggested. 

I recommend  that  I be  instructed  by  your  Honorable  Body  to  proceed 
forthwith  and  investigate  the  latest  developments  at  the  principal  eastern 
plants  and  present  to  you,  at  the  earliest  date  possible,  complete  plans,  with 
estimates,  that  a bond  issue  may  be  called  at  an  early  date. 

(No.  78742— J.. A. G.) 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JOHN  A.  GRIFFIN, 

City  Engineer. 


Copy  ot  Report  regarding  North  Outfall  Sewer 
taken  from  Annual  Report  of  City  Engineer 
for  year  ending  June  30,  1921 

NORTH  OUTFALL  SEWER 
1. — Preliminary  Work 

At  the  beginning  of  the  past  fiscal  year  studies  were  made  and  reports 
prepared  showing  the  need  of  a new  outfall  sewer.  These  studies  indicated 
that  such  a new  outfall  would  be  required  within  a few  years,  as  the  amount 
of  sewage  discharged  into  the  present  outfall  sewer  was  increasing  so  rapidly 
that  the  present  outfall  would  probably  become  overtaxed  before  1924.  Fur- 
thermore, the  rapid  increase  of  new  buildings  west  of  the  present  sewered 
area  of  the  City  has  indicated  that  some  provision  must  be  made  in  the  near 
future  for  an  outfall  sewer  which  would  render  unnecessary  the  use  of  cess- 
pools for  all  of  the  district  lying  between  Rimpau  Avenue  and  the  cities  on  the 
west  coast.  At  the  present  time  a portion  of  this  non-sewered  section  is  not 
included  within  the  City  boundaries,  but  plans  for  the  annexation  of  such 
portions  are  being  made,  and  it  is  probable  that  an  outfall  sewer  for  this  dis- 
trict will  be  needed  before  such  an  outfall  can  be  completed. 

In  addition  to  these  reasons  why  a new  outfall  sewer  is  needed,  the  in- 
crease in  the  amount  of  sewage  from  the  industrial  district,  which  is  located 
along  the  Los  Angeles  River,  has  been  so  great  during  the  past  few  years 
that  the  capacity  of  that  portion  of  the  central  interceptor  sewer,  which  is 

8 


located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Los  Angeles  River,  north  of  Sixth  Street,  is 
becoming  over-taxed. 

The  need  of  this  new  outfall  sewer  has  been  referred  to  in  special  reports 
of  this  department  and  in  almost  every  annual  report  since  June  30,  1912.  As 
the  continued  increase  in  the  flow  in  the  present  outfall  sewer  has  been  care- 
fully noted  from  year  to  year,  it  became  apparent  over  a year  ago  that  the 
matter  of  rights  of  way  for  a new  outfall  sewer  should  be  secured,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  this  part  of  the  work  an  appropriation  of  $5,000.00  was  made  by  the 
Council  at  the  beginning  of  this  fiscal  year.  This  amount  will  pay  for  a 
portion  of  the  right  of  way  required  for  this  improvement,  but  it  is  probable 
that  an  additional  amount  must  be  provided  before  all  of  the  deeds  required 
for  the  right  of  way  can  be  obtained. 

2. — Proposed  Plans 

Preliminary  plans  for  this  new  outfall  sewer  were  completed  and  reports 
to  the  Board  of  Public  Works  and  City  Council  were  submitted  in  September 
and  November  of  1920,  also  in  January,  1921,  giving  in  detail  the  conditions 
and  reasons  why  such  an  outfall  sewer  was  required,  and  recommending  that 
the  matter  be  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  people  for  a bond  issue  at  an  early 
date.  The  first  estimate  of  cost  prepared  for  the  proposed  new  outfall  was 
approximately  $12,200,000.  Later,  after  further  consideration  to  certain  de- 
tails concerning  the  design  and  construction  of  the  sewer  had  been  given, 
this  amount  was  increased  to  $12,850,000. 

On  account  of  the  large  amount  of  money  which  would  be  required  for 
this  improvement  it  became  apparent  when  the  matter  was  submitted  to  the 
Board  of  Public  Works  and  the  City  Council  that  an  educational  campaign 
would  be  required  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  public  the  facts  as  to  the 
need  of  such  an  improvement.  Furthermore,  to  have  the  matter  examined 
and  checked  by  other  engineers  than  the  City  Engineer,  a committee  of  six 
local  engineers  was  selected  by  representatives  of  prominent  civic  organiza- 
tions of  the  City.  This  Advisory  Board  of  Engineers,  after  a careful 
examination  of  the  plans,  reported,  after  a study  of  two  months,  that  with  a 
few  corrections  the  plans  prepared  by  the  City  Engineer  were  sufficient  for 
the  work  required. 

In  making  the  necessary  studies  and  preliminary  plans  for  this  new  out- 
fall sewer,  attention  was  given  to  the  growth  of  the  different  sections  of  the 
City  and  the  work,  as  proposed,  was  planned  to  provide  for  the  increased 
growth  of  Los  Angeles  and  the  probable  conditions  which  would  exist  in 
1950.  The  design  of  the  new  outfall  sewer  provided  for  a general  metro- 
politan district,  and  for  the  extension  of  the  City  to  the  west  and  north,  so 
that  all  the  area  lying  west  of  the  easterly  boundary  line  of  the  City  of  Los 
Angeles,  north  of  Manchester  Avenue,  and  south  of  the  northerly  boundary 
line  of  the  San  Fernando  Valley,  would  be  benefited  by  the  proposed  improve- 
ment. This  area  would  include  all  of  the  land  lying  between  the  west  coast 
and  the  mountains  to  the  north  of  the  San  Fernando  Vallejq  Burbank,  Glen- 
dale and  Eagle  Rock,  with  the  exception  of  the  beach  cities,  sewage  disposal 
for  which  cities  can  be  provided  if  necessary  within  their  own  limits,  or  by 
treatment  at  Hyperion.  In  the  report  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  Engineers 
special  attention  is  called  to  the  areas  which  would  in  the  future  be  con- 
tributary  to  the  proposed  sewer,  which  areas  are  included  in  the  Los  Angeles 
Metropolitan  Sewerage  District,  for  which  the  proposed  outfall  sewer  was 
planned. 

3. — Sewage  Treatment 

In  addition  to  the  plans  prepared  for  the  new  outfall  sewer,  studies  have 
been  made  for  the  treatment  and  disposal  of  the  sewage  at  the  ocean.  This 


9 


part  of  the  proposed  improvement  has  been  given  considerable  attention, 
examinations  being  made  of  sewage  treatment  plants  in  various  portions  of  the 
state,  as  well  as  noting  the  type  of  treatment  described  in  reports  of  other 
cities.  After  making  such  studies,  the  use  of  a fine  screening  plant  was  recom- 
mended for  the  treatment  of  the  raw  sewage  at  Hyperion,  recommendations 
for  which  plant  with  a report  on  the  use  of  such  screens  were  also  given  in 
the  annual  report  of  this  department  for  the  year  ending  June  30th,  1920. 

4. — Land  Disposal 

After  the  plans  for  the  proposed  outfall  sewer  were  submitted  to  the 
Board  of  Advisory  Engineers,  it  was  found  that  some  opposition  to  the  project 
arose  from  persons  who  objected  to  the  discharge  of  sewage  into  the  ocean, 
these  persons  believing  that  the  City  was  wasting  certain  values  which  might 
permit  a profit  to  be  recovered  by  the  City  if  the  sewage  should  be  treated  and 
then  disposed  of  onto  the  land  through  irrigation  ditches.  In  order  that  such 
plans  might  be  given  careful  consideration,  detailed  studies  of  the  disposal 
of  sewage  on  land  were  made.  Before  the  flow  in  outfall  sewers  can  be  used 
on  land,  however,  it  is  considered  by  all  that  necessary  treatment  must  be 
given  to  the  flow  which  would  render  the  sewage  free  from  offense  if  used  for 
irrigation.  Although  there  are  three  or  four  types  of  treatment  which  can  be 
considered  for  this  purpose,  it  was  considered  that  the  best  form  of  treatment 
which  could  be  used  was  that  of  the  activated  sludge  process,  which  renders 
the  effluent  practically  free  from  bacteria  and  produces  a sludge  that  can  be 
dried  and  used  for  fertilizing  purposes.  Studies  for  the  installation  of  such 
treatment  plants  were  accordingly  prepared  and  estimates  of  costs  obtained 
of  the  different  factors  required  for  such  a treatment. 

The  land  to  the  south  and  southeast  of  the  city,  on  which  treated  sewage 
effluent  could  be  discharged,  would  require  long  distributing  conduits,  even 
under  the  most  favorable  conditions.  Studies  for  the  land  disposal  of  sewage 
included  the  planning  of  sewage  treatment  plants  along  the  line  of  the  outfall 
sewers  and  it  was  considered  that  a certain  length  of  new  collecting  sewers 
would  be  required  to  bring  the  sewage  to  such  treatment  plants.  In  some 
cases  resort  to  pumping  the  sewage  would  be  required,  as  the  land  on  which 
disposal  was  to  be  made  was  in  some  places  several  feet  higher  than  the 
sewer. 

In  some  of  the  discussions  that  have  occurred  during  the  past  year,  pro- 
ponents for  the  land  disposal  of  the  sewage  have  considered  only  certain  por- 
tions of  the  cost  required  therefor.  To  properly  consider  the  entire  cost, 
one  must  allow  for  the  item  of  collecting  sewers  required,  pumping  when 
necessary,  the  installation  and  operation  of  the  treatment  plants,  and  the 
installation  and  maintenance  of  the  distributing  conduits  therefrom. 

As  a result  of  the  studies  for  land  disposal,  it  was  found  that  the  present 
available  acreage  for  such  a disposal  was  sufficient  for  the  present  volume  of 
sewage  now  discharged  into  the  ocean  at  Hyperion,  but  that  as  this  volume 
increased  to  an  amount  which  would  probably  be  carried  by  outfall  sewers  in 
the  future,  the  land  for  such  a disposal  was  not  obtainable  in  Los  Angeles 
County.  Studies  and  inquiries  made  as  to  whether  such  land  was  available  in 
Orange  County  gave  no  encouragement  to  this  method  of  disposal.  If,  how- 
ever, the  land  now  available  for  land  disposal  of  sewage  was  sufficient  in 
area,  it  was  found  that  the  cost  required  for  the  different  steps  of  the  process 
of  collecting,  treating  and  distributing  the  sewage  would  be  more  than  the 
probable  income  to  be  derived  by  the  sale  of  the  water  and  solid  matter  which 
could  be  used  for  fertilizer. 


10 


5. — Ocean  Disposal 

In  contrast  to  this  method  of  disposal,  studies  made  of  the  discharge  of 
treated,  screened  sewage  into  the  ocean  at  Hyperion  indicated  that  all  of  the 
solid  and  floating  matter  would  be  removed  and  that  the  effluent  from  such 
screening  plants  would  receive  such  further  treatment  from  the  oxygen  in  the 
ocean  that  the  amount  of  bacteria  at  a distance  of  one-half  mile  or  more  from 
the  point  of  discharge  would  be  no  more  than  is  found  along  those  beaches 
which  are  not  affected  by  even  remote  outfall  sewers.  It  was,  accordingly, 
considered  that  the  screening  proposed  at  Hyperion,  together  with  the  oxidiz- 
ing effect  of  the  ocean,  will  remove  all  objections  now  made  by  the  residents 
of  the  beaches  on  the  west  coast.  In  this  connection  reference  should  be 
made  to  the  presence  of  oil  which  is  found  on  the  west  coast  beaches  as  not 
necessarily  coming  from  the  Los  Angeles  outfall  sewer,  but  probably  from 
the  oil  well  off  the  coast  at  Redondo  and  from  other  sofirces. 

6. — Opposition  to  Sewer  Bond  Issue 

During  the  months  from  February  to  May,  inclusive,  of  this  year,  the 
opposition  to  the  proposed  sewer  bond  issue  became  more  pronounced  as  time 
went  by,  and  counter-proposals  were  made  by  some  individuals  and  organiza- 
tions, which,  supported  by  the  daily  press,  had  the  effect  of  misleading  the 
public.  Such  proposals  referred  to  the  possibility  of  installing  plants  where 
the  sewage  would  be  treated  by  the  activated  sludge  process  and  also  to  the 
construction  of  a smaller  outfall  sewer  which,  it  was  thought  by  the  pro- 
ponents, might  suffice  for  a period  of  ten  years.  In  this  connection,  reference 
to  the  cost  of  the  present  outfall  sewer  was  made,  as  it  was  thought  by  the 
proponents  .of  such  a smaller  sewer  that  a duplication  of  the  present  outfall 
sewer  could  be  constructed  at  a cost  of  not  over  $2,000,000,  and  that  this 
improvement  would  be  sufficient  for  the  next  ten  years.  Other  opposition  to 
the  proposed  sewer  bonds  was  made  by  those  who  had  for  sale  certain 
processes  of  sewage  treatment  which  they  considered  would  cause  the  sewage 
to  be  so  treated  that  the  solid  could  be  recovered  and  sold  at  a price  which 
they  thought  would  more  than  offset  the  cost  of  treatment. 

Regarding  these  different  alternate  methods  of  treatment  and  disposal,  an 
earnest  endeavor  has  been  made  to  investigate  carefully  the  details  of  each 
plan  proposed,  in  order  that  if  the  alternate  plan  should  be  found  feasible,  its 
costs  could  be  considered.  As,  however,  in  almost  every  case  it  has  been  found 
that  the  process  of  sewage  treatment  proposed  by  such  alternate  plans  has 
net  been  given  a trial  on  any  municipal  working  basis,  it  is  not  thought  that 
such  alternate  plans  should  be  considered  in  contrast  with  the  proposed  sewer 
outfall  or  the  activated  sludge  treatment  until  a more  detailed  investigation 
covering  the  installation  and  operation  on  a large  scale  can  be  made.  Further- 
more, it  may  be  noted  from  the  report  of  the  Special  Sewage  Disposal  Com- 
mission, which  was  appointed  by  the  City  Council  in  March,  that  allowing 
for  the  average  operating  cost  of  $10.00  per  million  gallons,  with  an  additional 
cost  of  $15.00  per  ton  for  pressing  and  drying  the  sludge,  the  city  would  lose 
$1,490,000  annually  if  the  activated  sludge  method  of  treatment  were  adopted 
for  the  probable  amount  of  sewage  which  will  come  from  a population  of 
about  2,500,000  in  1950. 

7. — Special  Sewage  Commission 

This  loss  has  been  computed  from  the  estimates  given  in  the  report  of  the 
consulting  engineers  of  this  commission,  who  considered  that  the  activated 
sludge  process  would  produce  about  one  and  one-half  tons  of  fertilizer  per 
million  gallons  and  that  this  fertilizer  would  contain  about  four  units  of 
organic  nitrogen,  which  would  have  a value  at  the  plant  of  $18.00  per  ton. 

11 


This  loss  would  be  increased  if  allowance  were  made  for  the  cost  of  the 
necessary  collecting  sewers  and  for  the  disposal  of  the  effluent  from  the  plant. 
On  account  of  the  amount  of  grease  and  mineral  oil  contained  in  the  Los  An- 
geles sewage,  these  engineers  reported  that  the  commercial  success  of  the 
sludge  utilization  project  would  be  uncertain. 

The  assistance  of  this  commission  was  considered  necessary,  as  the 
large  amount  of  money  required  for  a new  outfall  sewer  was  reaching  prac- 
tically the  non-revenue  producing  bond  limit,  and  opinions  of  the  best  sewage 
experts  were  requested  by  the  public.  In  order  that  the  selection  of  mem- 
bers of  this  commission  should  be  properly  obtained,  the  local  chapters  of  the 
American  Society  of  Civil  Engineers  and  of  the  American  Association  of 
Engineers  requested  the  secretary  of  each  of  these  national  engineering 
organizations  to  send  to  the  City  Council  the  names  of  several  prominent 
sanitary  engineers  who  were  qualified  to  act  on  such  a commission.  Upon  the 
receipt  of  the  names  of  such  experts,  the  City  Council,  with  the  assistance  of 
Mr.  William  Mulholland,  who  was  selected  as  a member  of  this  commission 
bv  the  Council,  chose  the  names  of  George  W.  Fuller,  of  New  York  City,  and 
Professor  George  C.  Whipple,  of  Harvard  University,  in  Cambridge,  Mass., 
to  act  as  members  of  this  commission.  Accepting  the  choice  made  by  the 
Council,  the  eastern  engineers  arrived  in  Los  Angeles  on  April  4,  and  after 
two  weeks’  careful  study  of  the  conditions  on  the  ground,  prepared  the  first 
part  of  their  report  on  the  matter  of  sewage  disposal  for  the  city.  Previous  to 
the  departure  of  these  eastern  engineers  on  April  16,  this  part  of  the  report  of 
this  commission  was  filed  with  the  Council  which  gave  their  findings,  con- 
clusions and  recommendations.  This  report,  copies  of  which  are  on  file  with 
the  City  Clerk,  covers  the  general  situation  which  applies  to  the  Los  Angeles 
conditions,  but  it  does  not  complete  the  work  for  which  the  comtnission  was 
appointed,  as  these  engineers  deemed  it  necessary  to  make  a thorough  study 
of  other  findings  which  have  been  obtained  by  this  department  for  their  use. 
At  the  time  of  their  departure  it  was  thought  that  the  final  report  of  the  com- 
mission would  be  prepared  and  submitted  before  the  end  of  this  fiscal  year, 
but  on  account  of  the  time  and  amount  of  work  required  for  the  securing  of 
the  data  requested  by  these  engineers,  their  final  report  has  not  as  yet  been 
prepared. 

8. — New  Outfall  Sewer  Demand 

It  will  be  noted,  however,  from  the  conclusions  published  by  this  com- 
mission in  the  first  part  of  their  report,  that  a new  ocean  outfall  should  be 
constructed  as  soon  as  possible,  in  which  conclusion  the  writer  must  em- 
phatically concur.  A careful,  systematic  record  of  the  daily  flow  of  sewage 
in  the  outfall  sewer  indicated  that  the  present  outfall  sewer  is  carrying  its 
maximum  capacity  during  the  middle  portion  of  the  day  at  the  present  time, 
and  that  this  condition  will  probably  occur  during  all  of  the  day  before  the 
end  of  1923,  at  which  time  it  is  probable  that  the  amount  of  sewage  dis- 
charged into  the  outfall  sewer  will  so  overtax  this  conduit  that  sewage  will 
be  forced  out  of  the  manhole  tops  on  to  the  adjacent  ground.  Unless  relief 
measures  to  intercept  the  increasing  flow  of  sewage  can  be  carried  into  effect 
before  the  next  rainy  season,  it  is  possible  that  the  city  may  be  served  with 
injunction  suits  for  the  damage  to  private  property  from  the  overflowing 
sewage.  Such  a condition  seems  almost  inconceivable  for  a city  of  the  size 
and  importance  of  Los  Angeles,  but  until  the  opponents  to  the  proposed  out- 
fall sewer  can  realize  that  this  proposed  improvement,  although  very  costly, 
is  the  cheapest  way  for  the  disposal  of  the  sewage  of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles, 
it  appears  that  the  proposed  outfall  sewer  will  be  blocked  indefinitely  and  the 
present  outfall  will  become  overtaxed  and  discharge  the  sewage  which  it  can- 


12 


not  carry  on  to  lands  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  city.  This  condition  will 
probably  require  the  construction  of  ditches  for  the  removal  of  the  excess 
sewage  unless  funds  for  intercepting  sewers  which  will  carry  the  excess  flow 
in  the  present  outfall  sewer  to  water  courses  can  be  obtained.  The  defeat  of 
the  sewer  bond  election  on  June  7,  1921,  when  funds  amounting  to  $12,250,000 
were  proposed  for  the  new  outfall  sewer  and  treatment  at  Hyperion  is  very 
regrettable,  and  makes  necessary  immediate  steps  be  taken  to  provide  a quick 
alternative,  to  prevent  disaster. 


Report  of  City  Engineer  to  Council 
On  August  27,  1921 

Office  of  the  City  Engineer,  Los  Angeles,  California,  August  27,  1921. 

To  the  Honorable  Council,  of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles. 

Gentlemen : 

I beg  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the- inspection  I have  made  of  the 
sewage  disposal  plants  in  Eastern  cities  and  of  the  sanitary  conditions  I found 
in  those  cities  which  I visited  with  Mr.  W.  T.  Knowlton,  Engineer  of  Sewers, 
during  the  months  of  July  and  August. 

The  inspection  began  at  Milwaukee  where  a small  experimental  plant  is 
now  in  operation,  and  their  ultimate  plant  under  construction. 

No  revenue  of  any  nature  is  derived  from  their  effluent  or  sludge,  and 
while  it  is  anticipated  that  when  the  big  plant  is  finished  some  two  years 
hence,  the  sludge  will  be  reclaimed  and  sold,  it  is  not  anticipated  that  the 
revenue  so  derived  will  do  any  more  than  offset  a portion  of  the  cost  of  such 
reclamation. 

The  next  principal  stop  was  made  in  New  York  to  attend  a conference 
with  Mr.  George  W.  Fuller  and  Prof.  Geo.  C.  Whipple,  eastern  experts  of  the 
Special  Sewage  Disposal  Commission.  At  this  conference  I submitted  my 
proposed  plan  of  diverting  the  sewage  to  the  two  small  treatment  plants, 
which  I had  recommended  to  your  Honorable  Body  prior  to  leaving  here, 
and  my  recommendation  was  concurred  in  by  them.  While  in  New  York 
side  trips  were  made  to  Allentown,  Pa.  and  Phillipsburg,  N.  J.,  and  an  inspec- 
tion made  of  the  Landreth  Direct  Oxidation  Process  at  these  points;  also  a 
trip  to  Plainfield,  N.  J.  and  New  Britain,  Conn.,  at  which  latter  place  a Dorrco 
screen  was  in  use. 

On  arrival  at  Boston  I was  escorted  over  the  Harbor  to  each  of  the 
sewage  outlets  by  Mr.  Harrison  P.  Eddy,  together  with  several  members  of 
the  Metropolitan  Sewerage  Commission  and  Water  Works  Department,  and 
observed  the  effect  of  the  multiple  outlet  distribution  of  the  sewage  field. 
The  daily  discharge  of  sewage  into  Boston  Harbor  is  more  than  four  times  the 
total  quantity  carried  by  our  present  outfall  sewer  and  receives  no  treatment 
whatsoever;  the  steamers  entering  and  leaving  Boston  Harbor  cross  directly 
through  the  sewage  field.  Dependence  for  dilution  and  disposal  is  placed 
upon  tides  and  salt  water. 

Inspection  of  the  sewage  plants  in  operation  at  Fitchburg  and  at  Wor- 
cester were  next  made,  after  which  .Syracuse  and  Rochester  were  visited. 
Imhoff  tanks  and  sprinkling  filters  are  in  constant  use  at  both  Fitchburg  and 
Rochester,  and  Worcester  is  now  building  a similar  treatment  plant.  At 
Syracuse  an  outfall  sewer  is  under  construction. 

A visit  to  Cleveland  permitted  a good  inspection  of  the  Imhoff  tanks 
being  built  and  of  the  conditions  along  the  bathing  beaches  which  were  near 
the  sewer  outlets.  Detroit,  Toledo  and  Lima  were  then  seen,  in  all  of  which 
cities  large  sums  are  being  spent  for  outfall  and  intercepting  sewers.  It  was 


13 


next  noted  that  the  Imhoff  tanks  and  sprinkling  filters  at  Columbus  gave 
satisfactory  results,  and  that  this  plant  was  needed  to  prevent  pollution  of 
the  Scioto  River.  At  Indianapolis  it  was  noted  that  a new  outfall  sewer  was 
to  be  built  and  that  considerable  study  was  being  given  to  the  activated  sludge 
treatment  process. 

We  inspected  at  Chicago  a large  Imhoff  tank  plant  under  construction 
in  the  Calumet  District;  also  visited  testing  plants  where  tannery  and  corn 
product  wastes  were  being  treated.  Along  the  North  Shore  at  Chicago  an 
inspection  was  made  of  the  sewer  plants  at  Fort  Sheridan  and  at  the  Great 
Lakes  Naval  Station.  After  leaving  Chicago  a visit  was  made  to  the  State 
University  of  Illinois  at  Urbana,  where  an  experimental  sewage  plant  of  the 
Dorr-Peck  type  is  in  operation.  The  return  trip  from  Chicago  to  Los  An- 
geles was  made  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  Houston,  at  which  latter  place 
two  activated  sludge  plants  have  been  in  use  since  1918. 

The  total  mileage  covered  by  the  trip  amounts  to  approximately  8,500 
miles,  and  covered  an  investigation  of  some  35  plants.  The  total  expense, 
including  railroad  fares,  etc.,  amounted  to  $1,152.45,  and  the  balance  of  $347.55 
has  been  returned  to  you. 

In  the  following  chapters  I have  given  a condensed  report  of  the  sewer 
conditions  in  each  of  the  cities  I visited.  From  an  examination  of  these  con- 
ditions it  will  be  noted  that  several  of  these  cities  have  investigated  the  dif- 
ferent methods  of  sewage  treatment  and  disposal  in  use,  and  that  the  construc- 
tion of  intercepting  and  outfall  sewers  is  required  in  most  of  these  cities.  Fur- 
thermore, the  discharge  of  raw  sewage  into  the  ocean  or  into  a large  body  of 
water  is  not  infrequent,  when  sufficient  dilution  can  be  obtained  and  floating 
matter  removed.  To  provide  for  dilution,  the  outlet  end  of  the  outfall  sewer 
should  be  at  a depth  of  about  25  to  30  feet,  being  that  used  in  Boston,  Syracuse 
and  Cleveland.  In  only  one  or  two  of  the  cities  visited  was  any  use  made  of 
the  sludge  as  a fertilizer,  and  in  those  cities  the  sludge  value  did  not  exceed 
$0.50  per  cubic  yard.  On  the  contrary,  the  sludge  from  the  sewage  treatment 
plants  is  usually  wasted  or  used  for  filling  low  land 

A brief  summary  of  the  treatment  of  the  sewage  in  the  various  cities 
visited  would  divide  the  cities  into  two  general  classes ; first,  those  discharging 
their  sewage  into  the  ocean;  and,  second,  the  inland  cities.  Of  the  latter,  the 
general  plan  used  for  treatment  consist  of  a combination  of  settling  tanks  and 
filters,  the  only  exception  being  the  direct  oxidation  (Landreth)  process  and 
the  activated  sludge  process.  Where  the  sewage  was  discharged  into  the 
ocean,  no  treatment  was  required  if  the  suspended  matter  was  taken  to  sea  by 
the  tides. 

In  my  report  to  your  Honorable  Body  of  June  23rd,  I proposed  as  an 
emergency  measure  an  alternative  plan  for  relieving  the  over-taxed  condition 
of  the  present  outfall  sewer  of  Los  Angeles,  and  at  the  same  time  demonstrate 
the  recovery  theory  by  installing  sewage  treatment  plants  in  or  near  the 
southeast  and  southwest  sections  of  the  City.  These  plants  were  proposed  to 
be  built  in  units  having  a total  capacity  of  about  31,000,000  gallons  per  day, 
which  would  suffice  to  relieve  the  outfall  sewer  from  overflow  during  the  next 
three  or  four  years.  The  cost  of  such  plants,  together  with  intercepting  sewers 
required  to  carry  sewage  to  the  plants,  was  then  estimated  at  $3,250,000.  In 
addition  to  this  cost,  I proposed  that  a sufficient  sum  be  allowed  for  the  opera- 
tion of  these  treatment  plants,  and  that  a screening  plant  be  installed  at  Hy- 
perion to  remove  all  suspended  matter  from  the  ocean  discharge.  The  total 
cost  of  these  plants,  including  a sum  sufficient  for  three  years  operation,  was 
estimated  at  $4,150,000. 

After  a careful  study  of  the  situation  in  Los  Angeles,  following  my  inspec- 
tion of  the  sewage  disposal  plants  in  the  Eastern  cities,  I recommend  that  the 


14 


above  plan  be  adopted  with  the  following  modification  as  relates  to  initial 
installation  and  paying  for  operation  costs. 

First:  The  construction  of  an  intercepting  sewer  south  of  and  adjacent 
to  the  so-called  Air  Line  Railroad,  extending  from  the  junction  of  Arlington 
Avenue  and  Exposition  Boulevard  westerly  to  the  vicinity  of  Moynier  Lane 
and  the  Ballona  Creek,  w'hich  sewer  will  provide  for  the  unsewered  districts  in 
the  western  part  of  the  City  between  Exposition  Boulevard  and  Hollywood 
and  as  far  west  as  the  junction  of  Washington  Street  and  Adams  Street;  and 
also  for  the  removal  of  the  excess  flow  in  the  present  outfall  sewer,  which  is 
causing  the  trouble  at  the  junction  of  Arlington  Avenue  and  Exposition  Boule- 
vard. The  cost  of  this  item  is  estimated  at  $1,304,000. 

Second:  The  installation  of  an  activated  sludge  plant,  to  be  known  as 
the  Southwest  Sewage  Treatment  Plan,  of  12,000,000  gallons  daily  capacity  at 
a location  near  the  westerly  terminus  of  the  intercepting  sewer  described  in 
the  first  item,  with  provision  for  discharging  the  clarified  effluent  into  the 
Ballona  Creek.  The  cost  of  this  item  is  estimated  at  $926,000. 

Third : The  installation  of  an  activated  sludge  plant,  to  be  known  as  the 
Southeast  Sewage  Treatment  Plant,  of  6,000,000  gallons  daily  capacity  to  be 
located  on  City  property  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  City,  with  provision  for 
discharging  the  clarified  effluent  into  the  Los  Angeles  River  bed.  The  cost  of 
this  item  is  estimated  at  $488,100. 

Fourth : The  construction  of  an  intercepting  sewer  to  deliver  sewage 
from  the  east  side  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  to  the  Southeast  plant  described 
in  the  third  item.  The  cost  of  this  item  is  estimated  at  $397,600. 

Fifth  : The  installation  of  a fine  screening  plant  at  Hyperion  of  54,000,000 
gallons  daily  capacity,  which  will  remove  the  suspended  matters  from  the  flow 
of  the  present  outfall  sewer,  the  cost  of  which  plant  is  estimated  at  $300,000. 

Sixth : The  extension  of  the  ocean  end  of  the  present  outfall  sewer  so  as 
to  discharge  the  screened  sewage  at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  the  cost  of  which 
is  estimated  at  $34,300. 

The  total  amount  of  the  foregoing  six  items  is  $3,450,000,  for  which  I 
recommend  a bond  issue  be  submitted  to  the  people  at  the  earliest  possible 
date. 

In  adopting  the  above  program,  it  should  be  understood  that  during  the 
installation  of  the  items  above  recommended  it  may  be  necessary  to  deliver 
sewage  from  the  present  outfall  onto  certain  areas  which  should  be  obtained 
for  this  purpose,  such  temporary  disposal,  however,  to  be  considered  purely  as 
an  emergency  measure  to  prevent  the  overflow  of  sewage  onto  city  streets, 
and  built-up  areas  where  construction  is  under  way.  Furthermore,  it  should 
be  understood  that  the  above  plan  will  only  provide  for  the  removal  of  the 
excess  flow  in  the  outfall  sewer  for  a period  of  three  or  four  years  and  at  the 
end  of  such  period,  extensions  will  have  to  be  made  by  future  bond  issues,  or 
if  it  is  found  by  experience  during  this  period  that  the  results  obtained  do  not 
warrant  the  extension  of  this  method  of  disposal,  a change  to  ocean  outfall  or 
other  means  can  be  made  at  a minimum  of  expense.  The  yearly  cost  of  opera- 
tion and  maintenance  of  the  treatment  plants  and  screening  plant  above  rec- 
ommended is  estimated  at  $258,300,  for  which  arrangements  must  be  provided 
in  the  annual  budget  of  the  City  instead  of  by  bond  issue.  While  it  is  possible 
that  some  revenue  may  accrue  from  the  sales  of  water  and  sludge,  I have  made 
no  allowance  for  such  sales,  as  such  revenue  is  problematical. 

On  account  of  the  great  need  of  securing  the  earliest  possible  relief  for 
the  present  outfall  sewer  and  providing  facilities  for  the  ever-growing  City,  I 
recommend  that  your  Honorable  Body  take  early  action  in  this  matter. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

(No.  78742— J.  A.  G.)  JOHN  A.  GRIFFIN,  City  Engineer. 


15 


Sewage  Disposal  in  Eastern  Cities 

(Accompanying  report  of  City  Engineer  to  Council  on  August  27,  1921.) 


CHAPTER  1. 


Milwaukee,  Wis. 


This  City  has  a population  of  500,000,  which  is  100  per  cent  sewered. 
The  sewage  is  both  industrial  and  domestic 

The  average  daily  flow  is  65,000,000  gallons ; the  minimum  is  35,000,000 
gallons  and  the  maximum  80,000,000  gallons.  Three-quarters  of  the  total  daily 
flow  is  discharged  into  the  Kinnickinnic  River  and  one-quarter  into  Lake 
Michigan.  The  use  of  the  river  for  disposal  of  so  much  of  the  sewage  has 
created  such  a nuisance  that  it  has  been  necessary  to  pump  80,000,000  gallons 
of  water  per  day  from  the  lake  into  the  river  to  dilute  the  sewage. 

At  the  present  time  about  200,000  gallons  of  sewage  flow  into  the  lake  is 
treated  at  the  experimental  station  on  Jones  Island. 

The  sewage  contains  an  average  of  300  parts  per  million  of  suspended 
matter  and  has  an  average  temperature  of  52°,  varying  from  34°  to  72°,  the 
corresponding  atmospheric  temperature  being  55°,  — 16°  and  98°. 

The  sewerage  system  consists  of  a high  and  low  level  system,  two-thirds 
of  the  total  flow  being  in  the  high  system  and  one-third  in  the  low.  Forty  per 
cent  of  the  sewage  is  pumped,  while  the  balance  is  on  a gravity  basis. 

The  intercepting  sewers  have  a length  of  35  miles,  and  were  built  of  con- 
crete in  1915  with  only  cement  wash  for  a protection  coat. 

The  final  treatment  plant  was  begun 
in  June,  1921,  and  will  be  finished  in 
about  two  years. 

The  experimental  work  was  begun 
in  1915  and  exhaustive  research  and 


Two  Views 

Milwaukee  River,  Milzvaukee 


16 


study  has  been  carried  on  to  date,  costing  $500,000.  The  200,000  gallons  now 
being  treated  daily  at  this  plant  passes  through  a grit  chamber  with  a velocity 
between  0.64  and  1.0  feet  per  second,  and  then  through  fine  screens,  after  which 
it  is  pumped  to  two  aerating  tanks  in  series,  where  it  is  subjected  to  a four- 
hour  detention  period  at  peak  load  in  the  day  and  eight-hour  detention  period 
at  night. 


Grit  Chambers,  Milwaukee 


98%  to  82%.  This  machine  is  known  as 
the  Besco-Ter  Meer  Centrifuge  and  is 
sold  by  the  Barth  Engineering  & Sani- 
tation Co.,  11  East  Forty-eighth  Street, 
New  York  City. 

This  machine  now  handles  from 
eight  to  sixteen  thousand  gallons,  or 
an  average  of  12,000  gallons  of  this  re- 
turned sludge  per  day,  or  will  produce 
from  9,000  to  10,000  pounds  of  82%  to 
83%  moisture  cake  per  million  gallons. 

The  total  capacity  of  each  of  these 
machines  varies  from  40,000  gallons  to 
60,000  gallons  of  returned  sludge  per 
million  gallons  of  sewage  treated,  or, 
in  other  words,  it  will  require  from  1 
to  1 y2  machines  per  million  gallons  of 
sewage  treated. 


The  amount  of  air  used  at  the  pres- 
ent time  averages  \l/2  cubic  feet  per 
gallon  of  sewage  treated,  has  a press- 
ure varying  from  6.9  to  7.1  pounds  per 
square  inch,  and  this  is  diffused 
through  filtros  plates  at  a ratio  of  1 to 
4.4.  In  the  new  plant  it  is  planned  to 
reduce  the  air  to  1.1  cubic  feet  per  gal- 
lon treated. 

From  the  aeration  tanks  the  sewage 
flows  over  a weir  to  a settling  chamber 
having  a Dorr  thickener.  From  the 
chamber  the  clarified  effluent  flows  to 
the  lake  and  18%  of  the  settled  sludge 
is  returned  to  the  aerating  tanks.  The 
balance  of  the  sludge  is  then  pumped 
into  a centrifuge  dryer  where  the  per- 
centage of  moisture  is  reduced  from 


Activated  Sludge  Plant , Milwaukee 


17 


This  machine  operated  on 
15-minute  to  20-minute  inter- 
vals and  produces  approxi- 
mately 100  pounds  of  cake 
83%  moisture  every  15  to  20 
minutes. 

The  present  treatment  plant 
was  put  into  operation  in 
October,  1920,  and  removes 
90%  of  the  suspended  solids, 
98%of  the  bacteria  with  an 
effluent  of  72  hours  stability. 
This  stability  would  permit 
the  effluent  from  either  of  our 
proposed  plants  to  reach  the 
ocean  before  becoming  putrid, 
but  will  not  prevent  algae  from 
growing  along  the  canals. 

To  date  no  cost  data  is  avail- 
able except  Mr.  Hatton’s  esti- 
mates, i.  e.,  initial  installation 
at  $55,000.00  per  million  gal- 
lons and  $35.00  per  million  gal- 
lons operating  cost. 


Activated  Sludge  Plant , Milwaukee 


18 


Traveling  Brushes,  Allentown 

The  screenings  are  removed  from  the  screens  by  traveling  brushes  and  dis- 
posed of  in  an  incinerater. 

The  sewage  is  then  passed  through  a grit  chamber  and  into  the  electrical 
unit  for  treatment,  the  flow  being  measured  by  a Venturi  meter.  Each  electric 
unit  consists  of  an  airtight  chamber  having  a length  of  28  feet,  and  a depth  of 
20  inches.  This  chamber  contains  the  electrolytic  plates  by  which  the  sewage 


Electrolytic  Plant,  Allentown 


ALLENTOWN,  PA. 


Chapter  2. 

Allentown  has  a population  of  85,000,  30,000  to  be  sewered  by  plant  just 
completed  as  soon  as  the  system  can  be  installed. 

The  sewage  is  domestic  with  slight  industrial  waste.  The  average  daily 
volume  to  be  treated  is  estimated  at  2,000,000  gallons,  the  maximum  3,000,000 
gallons,  and  the  minimum  1,500,000  gallons. 

The  plant  is  designed  on  the  basis  of  100  gallons  per  capita,  and  consists  of 
three  units  of  the  Landreth  Direct  Oxidation  Process  each  of  1,000,000  gal- 
lons capacity. 

This  type  of  treatment  includes  the  use  of  a fine  screen  to  remove  all  par- 
ticles greater  than  ]/<&”  in  diameter. 


19 


is  subjected  to  electrical  action.  Into  these  chambers  is  introduced  700  to 
1,000  pounds  of  lime  (Cal.  Oxide)  per  million  gallons  per  day. 

The  effluent  will  be  discharged  into  concrete  settling  tanks,  from  which 
the  sludge  will  be  drawn  to  sand  drying  beds  and  the  clarified  effluent  run 
into  the  creek. 


Settling  Tanks , Allentown 


The  operation  of  this  plant  will  require  126  K.  W.  hours  per  million  gal- 
lons per  day,  and  the  cost  of  power  is  2c  per  K.  W.  H.  The  cost  of  lime  is 
$8.30  per  ton.  The  power  required  for  operation  of  the  mechanical  units  of 
the  plant  is  as  follows: 

]/2  horse  power  for  lime  feeder. 

]/2  horse  power  per  million  gallons  daily  for  screens. 

1 H.  P.  for  water  pump  to  mix  lime. 

1,500  watts  for  paddles  per  million  gallons  daily=l  K.  W. 

1-25  H.  P.  motor  used  about  3 hours  daily  for  pulverizing  lime,  2j4  K.  W. 
per  million  gallons  daily. 

The  total  cost  of  this  plant  was  $205,000.00  without  any  sewers,  of  which 
$134,576.00  was  paid  to  the  Landreth  Co.  for  machinery  and  labor. 

The  screenings  are  estimated  at  four  cubic  feet  per  million  gallons  per  day, 
and  will  contain  95%  moisture. 

This  plant  was  finished  on  June  1st,  1921. 


20 


CHAPTER  3. 

Phillipsburg,  Pa. 

Phillipsburg  has  a population  of  20,000  with  17,000  now  served.  Character 
of  sewage,  15%  sanitary  and  85%  industrial. 

Average  daily  volume  is  500,000  gallons 
Maximum  daily  volume  is  800,000  gal- 
lons. Minimum  daiiy  volume  is  200,- 
000  gallons. 

The  plant  is  a duplicate  of  the  Allen- 
town plant.  On  the  day  of  my  visit, 

July  20,  1921,  only  one  electric  unit- 
was  in  operation  and  the  meters  in- 
dicated 72  volts,  33  amperes  and  1,300 
watts. 

No  data  was  available  regarding  sus- 
pended matter  excepting  a report  of 
October  19,  1920,  which  gave  the  aver- 
age daily  volume  of  inflow  of  52.9  ppm 
and  44.2  ppm  in  the  effluent.  It  was 
stated  that  the  sludge  would  have  a 
weight  of  1,508  pounds  per  million 
gallons  dry  basis,  and  8,880  pounds  per 
million  gallons  on  wet  basis. 

The  sewage  as  it  entered  the  plant 
looked  about  like  pure  water  with  only 
a trace  of  fecal  matter.  After  treatment 
in  the  units  the  grease  and  oil  scum 
was  very  apparent  and  was  intercepted 
by  barrels  and  diverted  to  coke  beds.  Buildings  Adjacent  to  Plant 

The  effluent  as  it  entered  the  settling  tanks  was  muddy,  and  after  being 
detained  in  the  settling  basins  for  four  hours  overflowed  the  weir  like  clear 
water  and  was  discharged  into  an  adjoining  creek.  The  dried  sludge  resem- 
bled clay  and  was  used  for  filling  on  land. 

There  was  practically  no  odor  con- 
nected with  the  plant,  which  is  located 
adjoining  several  houses. 

The  cost  and  amount  of  electricity 
for  this  plant  is  substantially  as  given 
for  the  Allentown  plant  except  that 
electricity  is  3 cents  per  K.  W.  hour 
and  lime  $10.90  a ton. 

Mr.  C.  P.  Landreth  stated  that  he 
has  no  interest  in  the  method  or 
amount  of  treatment  given  to  the  ef- 
fluent or  sludge  beyond  his  electric 
units. 

This  Landreth  Process  has  also  been 
used  at  Elmhurst,  N.  Y.,  where  one 
million  gallons  daily  are  treated.  An 
experimental  plant  of  one  million  gal- 
lons daily  was  also  in  operation  in  1918 
in  Easton,  Pa.,  but  later  dismantled. 


Sewage  Plant , Phillipsburg 


21 


CHAPTER  4. 

Plainfield,  N.  J. 

The  Plainfield  plant  treats  sewage  from  Plainfield,  North  Plainfield  and 
Dunellen. 

The  total  population  tributary  is  35,000,  and  the  flow  is  3,300,000  gallons 
per  day. 

This  plant  consists  of  fine  screens,  Imhoff  tanks,  sprinkling  filters,  secon- 
dary tanks  and  sludge  beds.  Taylor  nozzles  are  used  in  the  filter  beds  which 
have  a depth  of  six  feet. 

The  filters  are  of  lp2-inch  crushed  rock.  The  final  effluent  contains  about 
30  ppm  of  suspended  solids  and  is  run  into  an  adjacent  creek. 

A 10-foot  diameter  Reinsch-Wurl  screen  was  installed  in  1918. 

The  sludge  was  spread  on  lowlands  and  plowed  under. 

A slight  odor  was  noticeable  around  the  plant. 


Sprinkling  Filters , Plainfield 

CHAPTER  5. 

New  Britain,  Conn. 

The  population  is  55,000,  of  which  44,000  are  served. 

Sewage  consists  of  domestic  and  industrial  and  is  delivered  through  an 
outfall  four  miles  long. 


Drum  Screens,  New  Britain 
22 


Its  average  daily  volume  is  4,000,000  gallons. 

Its  maximum  daily  volume  is  6,000,000  gallons. 

Its  minimum  daily  volume  is  1,200,000  gallons. 

The  sewage  contains  an  average  of  110  ppm  of  suspended  matter,  of 
which  20%  is  removed  by  a fine  screen  having  1/16"  x y2"  slots,  the  percentage 
of  openings  being  24.6%.  The  length  of  the  screen  is  8 feet;  its  diameter  is 
4 feet  10  inches  (the  same  as  proposed  at  East  San  Pedro).  It  revolves  at  the 
rate  of  22  RPM  or  330  feet  surface  speed  per  minute.  This  operation  required 
1.56  h.  p.  A3  h.  p.  motor  is  used.  2 h.  p.  thereof  being  required  for  the  con- 
veyor for  screening  and  screen  and  1 


23 


Screening  Elevator,  New  Britain 


Screening  Elevator,  Nezv  Britain 


24 


Sewage  Discharge  on  Filter,  New  Britain 


This  screen  was  run  for  7 days  without  stopping  and  tests  made  by  me 
show  no  clogging. 

The  screenings  average  32  cu.  ft.  per  mil.  gals,  and  contain  85%  moisture, 
which  is  equivalent  to  330  lbs.  (dry  weight)  per  mil.  gals. 

At  the  time  the  photographs  were  taken  4 y2  mil.  gals,  per  day  were  pass- 
ing the  screen. 

The  plant  was  built  in  March,  1921.  The  effluent  from  the  screen  is  dis- 
charged onto  filter  beds  having  an  area  of  37  acres  which  are  6'  deep  of  sand 
and  gravel  in  clay  pits.  They  are  subdrained  into  the  Mattabesset  River. 


Diversion  Chamber,  New  Britain 

CHAPTER  6 
Boston,  Mass. 

Boston  and  adjoining  cities  dispose  of  their  sewage  through  three  outfalls. 
The  north  side  at  Deer  Island,  the  City  proper  at  Moon  Island,  and  the  south 
side  at  Nut  Island. 

At  Deer  Island  the  average  daily  volume  is  70  million  gallons. 

25 


Walls  and  Channels  of  Settling  7 


Settling  Tanks,  C 


26 


et  Treatment  Plant,  Chicago 


lumet  Treatment  Plant,  Chicago 


ment  Plant,  Chicago 


28 


At  Moon  Island  the  average  daily  volume  is  100  million  gallons. 

At  Nut  Island  the  average  daily  volume  is  65  million  gallons. 

An  inspection  by  boat  of  each  of  these  outlets  was  made  and  photos  taken 
of  the  discharge  of  sewage. 

At  Deer  Island  no  odor  was  noticeable,  while  the  field  was  well  marked. 
The  depth  of  water  over  the  end  of  this  outfall  is  50  ft. 

At  Moon  Island,  where  the  sewage  is  stored  until  1 hr.  after  high  tide 
before  it  is  discharged,  the  odor  was  more  pronounced,  due  to  surface  dis- 
charge. 

At  Nut  Island  surface  conditions  were  indentical  with  those  at  Deer 
Island,  the  depth  of  the  water  over  the  sewer  outlet  being  about  30  ft. 

The  Moon  Island  outfall  was  placed  in  operation  on  January  1,  1884. 

The  Deer  Island  outfall  was  laid  in  1891,  but  extended  in  1918,  while  the 
Nut  Island  outfall  was  completed  in  1901. 


29 


Moon  Island  Outlet,  Boston 


Nut  Island  Outlet,  Boston 


Deer  Island  Outlet,  Boston 
30 


Sludge  Beds,  Fitchburg 

CHAPTER  7 
Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Fitchburg  has  a population  of  41,000,  of  which  37,000  are  now  served. 
The  sewage  is  domestic  and  the  system  is  on  a separate  basis.  The  average 
daily  volume  is  3,000,000  gal.  and  the  maximum  6,500,000  gallons.  The 
sewage  is  treated  as  follows : Coarse  screens,  grit  chambers,  5 Imhoff  tanks, 
dosing  chamber,  sprinkling  filters,  followed  by  secondary  tanks.  The  sludge 
is  dried  on  sand  beds  and  removed  after  an  average  of  three  weeks  drying  to 
be  used  for  filling  low  land  areas,  with  an  occasional  sale  to  farmers  at  25c 
per  load.  The  demand  for  sludge  is  practically  nil.  The  final  effluent  is  dis- 


Sludge  Beds,  Fitchburg 

charged  into  an  adjacent  creek.  The  plant  has  been  in  operation  since  1914. 
The  detention  period  of  flow  through  the  tanks  is  10  to  12  hrs.  The  thick- 
ness of  the  partition  walls  is  two  inches.  The  sand  filters  cover  two  and  one- 
tenth  acres  and  are  10  ft.  deep  and  permit  the  handling  of  sewage  at  the  rate 
of  30,000  persons  per  acre.  The  Gault  (Worcester)  nozzles  are  used,  and 
spaced  15  feet  apart.  The  stone  used  varies  from  one  to  two  inches.  The 
sub  drainage  is  made  through  a floor,  consisting  of  5"  by  1^"  by  17"  blocks 


31 


Secondary  Tanks,  Fitchburg 


Imhoff  Tanks,  Fitchburg 


Effluent  Channel,  Fitchburg 


32 


Sprinkling  Filters,  Fitchburg 

resting  on  edge  which  gives  43  per 
cent  air  space.  The  sludge  beds  cover 
43/100  acres.  The  Imhoff  tanks  re- 
move 60  to  75  per  cent  of  the  total  sus- 
pended solids  and  99  per  cent  of  settle- 
able  solids.  The  Hancock  ejector  is 
used  to  remove  sludge  from  the  tank 
between  April  and  December  but  no 
scum  is  removed.  The  secondary 
tanks  give  a clear  effluent  which  is  dis- 
charged down  aerating  ladders.  The 
plant  cost  $300,000  and  the  land  $20,- 
000.  The  treatment  cost  is  $11.00  per 
million  gallons  or  $12.00  including  care 
of  grounds.  No  complaint  has  been 
made  of  the  plant  and  no  odor  was 
noticeable  on  day  of  visit  when  tem- 
perature was  80  degrees  in  shade. 

Aerating  Ladders,  Fitchburg 


Imhoff  Tanks,  Fitchburg 


,33 


CHAPTER  8 
Worcester,  Mass. 

The  population  is  180,000,  of  which  170,000  is  served.  The  system  is 
a combined  one,  the  average  daily  volume  is  18  million  gallons,  the  maximum 
54  million  gallons  and  the  minimum  12  million  gallons.  Thirty-eight  per  cent 
of  the  sewer  mileage  is  a combined  system,  but  the  total  flow  consists  of 
domestic,  industrial  and  manufacturing  waste  from  wire  mills,  carpet  works, 
dye  works  and  tanneries.  The  present  treatment  plant  consists  of  two  grit 


Grit  Chamber , Worcester 


chambers  followed  by  the  addition  of  625  lbs.  of  lime  per  million  gallons  to 
the  raw  sewage,  after  which  this  flow  is  discharged  into  settling  basins.  The 
grit  chambers  are  40  ft.  long,  10  ft.  wide  and  8 ft.  deep  and  remove  0.10  cu. 
yds.  of  grit  per  million  gallons.  These  chambers  are  cleaned  by  hand  rakes, 
the  cost  of  cleaning  being  $1.95  per  cu.  yd.  When  clam  shell  removal  is 
made,  the  cost  is  85  cents  per  cu,  yd.  This  chemical  treatment  is  made  for 
only  seven  hours  each  day,  8:30  a.  m.  to  3:30  p.  m.,  and  during  the  remainder 
of  the  twenty-four  hours  the  sewage  is  by-passed  to  the  filter  beds  which 
cover  72  acres  and  are  5 ft.  deep.  These  filter  beds  contain  sand  overlying 


Sewage  Plant,  Wore  ester 


34 


a system  of  6"  sub  drains  spaced  25  ft.  to  33  ft.  apart.  The  sand  filter  effluent 
shows  a removal  of  85%  organic  matter  and  95%  bacteria.  These  filters  pro- 
vide for  60,000  gallons  per  acre  per  day  and  the  under  drains  should  be  relaid 
at  least  every  five  years.  Effluent  from  these  filters  contain  considerable  iron. 
Sludge  from  the  settling  tanks  amounts  to  3500  gallons,  96%  moisture,  per 
million  gallons  of  sewage  treated  and  is  pumped  to  drying  beds.  Lime  used 
cost  $14.20  per  ton  and  the  treatment  costs  $9.00  per  million  gallons,  which 
includes  the  sludge  disposal  There  is  no  demand  for  sludge  fertilizer.  Owing 
to  complaint  from  property  owners  and  others  on  the  Blackstone  River  below 
the  Worcester  plant,  the  City  of  Worcester  is  now  constructing  a new  treat- 
ment plant  consisting  of  twenty-two  Imhoff  tanks,  36  ft.  wide  and  90  ft.  long 
which  in  1934  are  expected  to  treat  25  million  gallons  per  day,  and  in  1950, 
60  million  gallons  per  day.  The  Imhoff  tank  effluent  will  be  further  treated 
on  14  acres  of  trickling  filters  9 ft.  deep.  This  new  plant  is  planned  to  be 
* ready  for  use  in  April,  1924,  and  its  cost  is  estimated  at  $2,500,000.00. 


Site  for  New  Plant , Worcester 

CHAPTER  9 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Syracuse  has  a population  of  171,717  all  of  which  are  served.  The  sewage 
is  domestic  and  combined.  The  flow  averages  125  gallons  per  capita,  has  a 
minimum  daily  volume  of  15  to  18  million  gallons  and  an  average  daily  flow 
of  27  million  gallons,  including  storm  water.  There  are  250  p.  p.  m.  of  sus- 
pended matter  in  the  average  daily  flow.  At  the  present  time  this  city  is 
building  a 90"  intercepting  sewer  and  has  planned  a treatment  plant  consist- 
ing of  an  overflow  chamber,  screen  house,  grit  chamber,  pump  house  and 
four  Dorr  tanks.  These  tanks  are  to  be  100  ft.  diameter  and  have  a depth 
of  7 ft.  at  sides  and  9 ft.  in  center.  The  detention  period  is  to  be  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour,  which  will  cause  60%  of  the  suspended  matter  to  be  re- 
moved. The  effluent  from  the  tanks  is  to  be  discharged  1400  ft.  out  into 
Onondaga  Lake  from  which  no  water  supply  is  taken.  The  sludge  is  all 
wasted  on  beds  on  which  is  discharged  waste  from  the  Solway  process.  This 
waste  is  forty  times  the  amount  of  sludge  and  four  times  greater  than  the 
amount  necessary  for  sludge  disposal.  This  plant  will  have  a maximum  ca- 
pacity of  55  million  gallons  per  day  and  all  volume  above  this  amount  will 
be  by-passed  into  the  lake.  The  outfall  sewer  is  60"  in  diameter  and  has  four 
24"  outlets  24  ft.  apart  with  an  open  discharge  at  its  end  where  it  is  25  ft. 
below  the  water  surface  in  the  lake.  The  proposed  plant  was  designed  after 

35 


Irondequoit  Plant , Imhoff  Tanks,  Rochester 


Drainage  Cannel,  Syracuse 


Outfall  Sewer,  Syracuse 


tests  had  been  made  of  different  kinds  of  treatment  of  the  flow  under  the 
existing  conditions  for  over  a period  of  one  year.  During  this  time  an  ex- 
perimental tank  was  installed  to  get  the  effect  of  both  storage  and  detention 
under  varying  conditions.  This  tank  was  100  ft.  long,  30"  wide  and  48" 
deep,  with  an  additional  depth  of  24"  for  sludge.  The  cost  of  the  outfall 
sewer  and  plant  is  estimated  at  $800,000.00. 


36 


CHAPTER  10 


Rochester,  N.  Y. 


Rochester  has  a population  of  300,000  and  is  all  sewered.  The  city  is 
divided  into  three  sanitary  districts  known  as  the  Charlotte,  Irondequoit  and 
Brighton.  The  Charlotte  plant  will  treat  sewage  of  1200  population  and  has 
just  been  completed.  This  plant  consists  of  bar  screens,  grit  chambers  and 
one  circular  Imhoff  tank.  The  screen  consists  of  2"xj4"  bars  spaced  Y\  of 
an  inch.  The  grit  chamber  is  40  ft.  long.  The  Imhoff  tank  has  sludge  ca- 
pacity at  the  rate  of  1 and  6/10  cu.  ft.  per  capita.  The  gate  valves  are  operated 
by  3 Nash  compressors,  size  No.  1,  under  15  pounds  pressure.  The  sludge  is 
dried  on  circular  sludge  beds  surrounding  the  Imhoff  tanks  and  can  be  by- 
passed into  the  outfall  sewer. 

The  Irondequoit  plant 
was  placed  in  use  in 
1917  and  treats  32  and 
6/10  million  gallons 
per  day,  which  volume 
contains  324  parts  per 
million  of  suspended 
matter.  This  plant 
covers  31  and  5/10 
acres  and  consists  of 
bar  screens,  6 grit 
chambers,  4 Reinsch- 
Wurl  screens — Imhoff 
tanks  and  sludge  beds. 

The  tank  effluent 
is  discharged  into 
Lake  Ontario. 

The  grit  chambers 


Charlotte  Plant,  Rochester 


are  90  ft.  long  and  10  ft.  wide  and  re- 
move one  and  one-eighth  cu.  yds.  of 
grit  per  million  gallons.  The  sewage 
has  a velocity  of  flow  through  these 
chambers  at  the  rate  of  9/10  of  a foot 
per  second ; at  the  time  of  my  visit  but 
one  chamber  was  in  operation.  The 
sewage  is  a combined  flow  varying 
from  20.  to  80  million  gallons  per  day. 
The  Reinsch-Wurl  screen  has  a slope  of 
30  degrees  from  the  horizontal,  which 
is  too  steep  for  effective  removal,  one 
screen  has  $4"  slots  and  another  "l/s 
and  two  others  one-sixteenth  inch,  the 
slot  length  being  2"  in  all  cases.  The 
first  two  screens  mentioned  are  used 
for  normal  daily  flow  and  the  latter 
for  storm  flows.  These  screens  re- 
move 6 cu.  ft.  per  million  gallons  and 
cost  when  they  were  originally  placed, 
$54,000  which  included  the  bridging 
and  electrical  work.  The  screens  show 


Charlotte  Plant,  Gate  P'alves,  Rochester 


S7 


Irondequoit  Plant  Grit 
Chambers , Rochester 


Brighton  Plant,  Rochester 


38 


Charlotte  Plant , Rochester 


marked  signs  of  wear  and  required  re- 
placement after  being  in  use  560  days. 
The  brushes  are  replaced  every  two 
years.  There  are  five  double  Tmhofi 
tank  units  and  the  flow'  into  these  units  is  regulated  by  forty  Hydraulic  gate 
valves.  These  tank  units  are  62  ft.  long  and  24  ft.  wide  and  the  flow  has  a 
velocity  of  one  ft.  per  second.  The  tanks  remove  about  43%  of  suspended 
solids  and  71%  of  settleable  solids,  there  being  about  300  parts  per  million  in 
the  influent.  At  the  time  of  my  visit  there  w^as  3 inches  of  scum  in  the  tanks 
and  no  scum  had  been  removed  since  March.  The  age  of  sewage  reaching 
the  plant  varies  from  one  to  12  hours.  The  sludge  averages  1.08  cu.  yds.  per 
million  gallons  and  is  removed  from  the  drying  beds  every  thirteen  days  and 
sold  at  75c  per  load  or  50c.  per  cu.  yd.  When  drawn  off  from  the  tanks  the 
sludge  contains  from  79  to  86%  moisture  and  when  removed  from  sludge 
beds  50  to  65%.  The  cost  of  this  plant  wras  $1,000,000,  and  in  1920  it  cost 
$30,000  to  operate.  There  are  employed  at  the  plant,  one  superintendent, 
one  chemist  and  assistant,  and  two  laborers  on  8 hr.  basis.  At  the  tanks  there 
are  one  foreman  and  twelve  laborers. 


The  Brighton  plant 
was  placed  in  use  on 
March  1st,  1916,  and 
has  an  average  daily 
volume  of  one  to  one 
and  a half  million 
gallons.  The  sewers 
are  built  on  a separate 
f system.  The  plant  con- 
sists of  grit  chambers, 
Imhoff  tanks,  sludge 
beds,  1 acre  of  sprink- 
ling filters  and  final 
settling  basins.  The 


Brighton  Plant , Rochester 


39 


filters  contain  one  inch  and  two  inch  stone  and  are  six  feet  deep.  Six-inch 
sub  drains  are  used,  the  nozzles  are  Columbus  type  and  spaced  14  ft.  in 
triangles.  The  final  effluent  has  a stability  of  more  than  10  days  and  there 
is  a removal  of  80%  of  suspended  solids.  The  cost  of  this  plant  was  $118,000, 


I rondo ’quoit  Plant,  Sludge  Beds,  Rochester 


plus  $2,000  for  laboratory  or  a total  of  $120,000.  The  fall  of  75  ft.  from  the 
head  chamber  to  the  plant  provides  for  the  electricity  for  the  plant,  there 
being  21  horsepower  for  each  six  second  ft.  of  sewage  flow.  This  plant 
uses  three  men  for  operation.  The  Imhoff  sludge  amounts  to  540  cu.  yds.  per 
year. 

CHAPTER  13 

Cleveland,  Ohio 

Cleveland  has  a population  of  800,000,  of  which  90  to  95%  is  served.  The 
sewage  is  combined  and  contains  250  parts  per  million  of  suspended  matter. 
The  daily  volume  to  be  treated  is  125  gallons  per  capita.  There  are  four  sani- 
tary districts — westerly,  easterly,  southerly  and  a low  level  section ; 40% 
of  the  sewage  of  the  city  is  discharged  into  the  Cuyahoga  River, thence  into 
Lake  Erie,  so  that  this  river  is  very  black  and  septic.  The  Westerly  plant 
is  under  construction  and  consists  of  coarse  screens,  grit  chambers  and  Im- 
hoff tanks.  The  tank  effluent  is  to  be  discharged  into  the  lake  through  a 
submerged  outfall  of  the  multiple  outlet  type,  at  a depth  of  about  30  ft.  and 
about  3^  mhe  from  shore.  It  is  proposed  to  dump  the  tank  sludge  into  the 


Westerly  Plant,  Cleveland 


40 


Westerly  Plant,  Imhoff  Tanks,  Cleveland 


lake  by  barges.  The  estimated  cost  of 
this  plant  is  $1,100,000.  This  plant  is 
within  a half  mile  of  a popular  bathing 
beach.  At  the  present  time  the  sewage 
is  discharged  after  dosing  with  6 parts 
per  million  of  chlorine,  into  the  lake  at 
a distance  of  1400  ft. 

The  Easterly  plant  is  under  con- 
struction and  consists  of  parallel  grit 
chambers,  each  with  its  own  bar 
screen,  and  an  open  outfall  into  Lake 
Erie.  Raw  sewage  averaging  52 
million  gallons  per  day  is  now  dis- 

Westerly  Plant  Outfall  Sewer, 
Cleveland 


Westerly  Plant,.  Imhoff  Tanks 


41 


Easterly  Plant,  Grit  Chambers  and  Outfall,  Cleveland 


Westerly  Plant,  Cleveland 


Westerly  Plant,  I mho  ft  Tanks,  Cleveland 
42 


charged  into  the  lake  400  ft.  off  shore.  Bathers  use  the  beach  within  one 
hundred  yds.  of  the  plant  and  floating  solids  along  the  beach  are  very  notice- 
able. There  is  no  complaint,  althoug  odors  from  the  outfall  are  very  strong. 
Within  200  yds.  of  this  plant  are  high-class  residences.  The  cost  of  this 
plant  is  estimated  at  $1,250,000. 

The  Southerly  plant  is  not  as  yet  built. 

CHAPTER  12 
Detroit,  Mich. 

Detroit  has  a population  of  950,000,  and  including  Highland  Park,  Ham- 
tranck,  Brownly  and  Charbereau,  over  a million. 

There  are  approximately  81  sq.  miles  within  the  city  limits.  About  five 
years  ago  work  was  begun  on  the  construction  of  a combined  sewerage 
system,  discharging  into  the  Detroit  River,  with  a proposed  treatment  plant 
for  the  sanitary  sewage,  consisting  of  grit  chamber,  Imhoff  tanks,  and  pos- 
sibly chlorination.  The  site  for  this  plant  has  been  bought  but  no  work  done 
as  yet. 

The  City  is  now  building  9'  and  11'  intercepting  sewers  at  the  rate  of 
two  miles  per  week  costing  $1,000,000.00  per  month,  out  of  an  available  fund 
of  $33,000,000.00,  $25,000,000.00  of  which  was  obtained  by  bond  issue  in  Au- 
gust, 1920. 

Most  of  the  work  is  built  by  contract,  although  some  is  by  the  city. 

In  1970  it  is  estimated  that  the  ultimate  population  will  be  2,664,000 
when  the  maximum  flow  per  day  will  be  879  million  gallons  and  the  average 
493  million  gallons,  which  is  an  average  of  185  gallons  per  capita. 

The  design  used  for  the  intercepting  sewer  was  an  average  of  114  gal- 
lons per  day  per  acre,  the  maximum  being  double  the  average. 

The  average  sewage  flow  in  1920  was  177  gallons  per  capita,  the  maxi- 
mum being  287  gallons  per  capita. 

No  infiltration  is  expected. 

The  proposed  treatment  of  the  sanitary  sewage  will  remove  90  to  95% 
of  both  settleable  solids  and  suspended  matter,  the  percentage  of  suspended 
matter  varying  with  the  flow  per  capita. 

In  the  past  this  city  has  had  trouble  with  large  amounts  of  gas  and  oil 
in  its  sewers,  and  at  times  explosions  have  occurred  on  this  account.  It  is  not 
expected,  however,  that  oil  in  Imhoff  tanks  will  interfere  unless  over  1 y2" 
thick. 

The  cost  of  the  proposed  treatment  by  Imhoff  tanks  is  estimated  between 
$6  and  $6.50  per  million  gallons,  whereas  if  activated  sludge  process  were 
used  it  would  cost  $15  per  million  gallons. 

Electricity  cost  is  from  1 to  1J4  cents  per  K.  W.  H. 

It  is  proposed  to  use  5 parts  per  million  of  chlorine  costing  $.025  per  lb. 
At  present  time  the  flow  in  Detroit  River  is  210,000  second  feet. 

In  the  neighboring  city  of  Pontiac,  Mich.,  which  has  a population  of 
52,000  and  a sewage  flow  of  100  gallons  per  capita,  a sprinkling  filter  plant 
has  been  in  use  for  a year.  The  sewage  has  an  average  detention  period  of 
2*4  hours,  and  94-96%  of  the  settleable  solids  are  removed. 

CHAPTER  13 
Toledo,  Ohio 

Toledo  has  a population  of  243,000,  all  of  which  is  served.  The  sewage 
is  combined.  Including  the  sewage  of  towns  adjacent,  which  will  in  time  be 
treated  at  the  site  proposed  for  sewage  disposal,  the  total  sewered  popula- 

43 


tion  will  be  300,000.  Intercepting  sewers  have  been  planned  for  which 
$1,500,000  are  now  being  spent  for  construction.  Toledo  has  bonded  itself 
for  $2,800,000.00  so  that  a balance  is  left  for  future  work. 

No  sewage  treatment  is  proposed  at  present  time  as  conditions  are  such 
that  proper  dispersion  of  sewage  into  the  Maumee  River  will  enable  suf- 
ficient dilution  for  several  years. 


CHAPTER  14 
Lima,  Ohio 

Lima  has  a population  of  41,000.  Intercepting  sewers  are  being  con- 
structed to  eliminate  the  discharge  of  raw  sewage  into  Hog  Creek,  a stream 
which  flows  across  the  city  and  which  is  in  a very  insanitary  and  septic 
condition.  The  sewers  are  for  combined  flow  and  vary  from  3'6"  at  upper 
end  to  7'  at  outlet. 

In  two  sections  visited,  segment  block  (Robinson  type)  was  used,  and  25 
bbls.  of  cement  costing  $2.50  per  bbl.  were  required  per  100  lin.  ft.  of  6'  6" 
sewer.  Very  little  sheeting  was  used  and  trench  in  hard  clay  readily  cut  to 
required  shape.  A force  of  2 masons  on  invert,  1 mason  on  arch,  and  19 
laborers  was  employed.  Masons  are  paid  $8.00  to  $14.00,  and  labor  from 
35  cents  to  58  cents.  Trenching  machine  on  4'  6"  sewer  averaged  70  lin. 
ft.  per  8 hrs.  in  21'  depth.  In  18'  cut,  6'  6"  sewer  averaged  30-40  ft.  per  day, 
and  with  no  water  6'  6"  sewers  in  20'  cut  averaged  60  lin.  ft.,  whereas  4'  6" 
sewers  averaged  80  lin.  ft. 

Prices  paid  for  the  Robinson  segment  block  in  August,  1919  f.  o.  b.  job : 


36" 

$2.44 

66" 

$6.00 

42" 

2.99 

72" 

6.84 

54" 

4 22 

78" 

7.46 

60" 

5.59 

84" 

9.35 

CHAPTER  15 
Columbus,  Ohio 

Columbus  has  a population  of  237,000,  80%  of  which  is  sewered.  One- 
half  of  the  city  is  on  the  combined  system  and  one-half  on  the  separate. 

The  average  daily  flow  is  26  million  gallons,  which  is  treated  by  a plant 
consisting  of  22  Imhoff  tanks  135'  long  and  25'  deep.  Sewage  is  dried  on  8 
open  beds  in  about  ten  days,  and  then  hauled  to  dump  by  gasoline  locomo- 


Imhoff  Tanks,  Columbus 


44 


tives.  The  tank  effluent  is  discharged  from  a head  of  8 feet  onto  10  acres 
of  sprinkling  filters  5j4'  deep  consisting  of  broken  limestone.  The  nozzles 
are  15'  apart,  1"  to  3"  in  diameter.  The  filter  effluent  passes  through  final 
settling  basins  into  the  Scioto  River. 

The  raw  sewage  contains  223  P.  P.  M.  of  suspended  matter,  60%  being 
removed  by  tanks  which  remove  95%  of  settleable  solids. 

The  total  area  owned  by  the  city  for  treatment  is  270  acres. 

At  present  time  the  flow  in  the  river  is  less  than  5 million  gallons  daily, 
but  the  nearest  town  down  stream  is  25  miles  distant. 

The  plant  has  been  in  use  since  1916,  and  the  filter  operates  about  75% 
of  the  24  hours  each  day. 

Odors  at  the  plant  were  not  strong  and  came  from  the  sludge  beds,  which 
have  not  sufficient  area,  as  1.25  sq.  ft.  per  capita  should  have  been  used  in 
design  rather  than  0.44  sq.  ft. 

The  operation  of  the  plant  requires  1 foreman  and  5 laborers  each  day 
with  a chemist  and  assistant. 


Imhoff  Tanks,  Columbus 


Sprinkling  Filters,  Columbus 


45 


Argo  Plant , Chicago 


CHAPTER  16 
Indianapolis,  Indiana 

Indianapolis  has  a population  of  3 14,000,  of  which  60,000  is  not  sewered. 
The  system  is  a combined  one.  At  the  present  time  an  outfall  sewer  dis- 
charges raw  sewage  into  the  White  river,  and  at  this  location  an  experimental 
plant  has  been  built,  where  the  Dorr-Peck  Activated  treatment  process  is 
being  tried. 

It  is  planned  to  install  a treatment  plant  elsewhere,  and  for  this  purpose 
a new  outfall  sewer  is  to  be  constructed  which  will  have  a maximum  capacity 
of  55,000,000  gallons  per  day  and  an  average  flow  of  48,000,000  gallons  per 
day.  At  the  end  of  this  new  outfall  the  sewage  is  to  be  screened  through  a 
30-mesh  drum,  consisting  of  12  screens,  6 feet  in  diameter  by  7 feet  9 inches 
face,  each  of  3,000,000  to  5,000,000  gallons  per  day  capacity.  The  screens 
will  cost  $28,000. 

The  sewage  contains  250  to  300  pounds  of  suspended  matter  per  million 
gallons. 

The  treatment  plant  is  to  be  divided  into  three  units.  The  city  has  200 
acres  of  land  for  the  eventual  conditions  which  may  be  required  in  1950. 

CHAPTER  17 
Chicago,  Illinois 

At  the  Tannery  Testing  Station,  which  has  been  in  operation  since  April 
1920,  the  tannery  waste  of  the  Griess-Pfleger  Tanning  Company  is  being 
treated  by  the  activated  sludge  process  of  the  Dorr  type.  This  plant  is 
located  at  the  Halstead  Street  bridge,  over  the  North  Branch  of  the  Chicago 
river,  which  contained  considerable  solid  matter  and  oil  on  the  day  of  my 
visit. 

Two  and  three-quarters  cubic  feet  of  air  is  used  per  gallon  of  sewage 
treated,  and  the  detention  period  is  12  hours.  The  Dorr  tanks  are  12  feet 


46 


Settling  Tanks,  Tannery  Testing  Station,  Chicago  General  View. 


deep  and  12  feet  in 
diameter,  405  gallons 
to  be  treated  per 
square  foot  of  surface 
area.  44,000  to  48,000 
gallons  per  day  are 
treated  by  the  Dorr 
tank,  and  300,000  to 
400,  (300  gallons  per 
acre  per  day  are  fil- 
tered though  cinders 
and  100,000  to  200,000 
gallons  through  sand, 
the  effluent  having  a 
stability  of  90%  and 
more.  The  sand  beds 


are  3*4  feet  deep  and 
the  cinder  beds  5^4 
deep. 

In  the  Calumet  dis- 
trict the  population  is 
120,000  and  plans  have 
been  made  for  a future 
population  of  300,000. 
The  intercepting  sewer 
for  this  section  is  17 
feet  in  diameter,  and 
the  sewage  is  to  be 
pumped,  both  centri- 
fugal and  impeller 
pumps  being  required. 


Wall  of  Settling  Tanks,  Calumet  Treatment  Plant, 
Chicago 


The  sewage  is  to  be  treated  by  a plant  to  cost  $4,500,000  and  to  contain 
32  Imhoff  tank  units,  each  103  feet  long,  34^4  feet  wide  and  26  feet  deep.  Six 
36-inch  pumps  and  three  72-inch  pumps  are  to  be  used.  300  gallons  of  sewage 
per  capita  is  the  estimated  flow. 

At  Argo,  26  miles  west  of  Chicago,  the  wastes  of  the  corn  products  re- 
finery are  being  treated  by  an  experimental  plant,  where  the  activated  sludge 
process  is  contrasted  with  the  Dorr-Peck  process  by  having  the  wastes 
treated  simultaneously  by  each  type.  The  latter  process  gives  4.2%  to  6.% 
of  nitrogen  in  the  sludge  obtained,  and  required  2.8  cubic  feet  of  air  per 
gallon  of  sewage  treated.  A 12-hour  detention  period  is  used  in  both  cases. 
At  the  present  time  the  plant  is  treating  43,000  gallons  per  day  in  three  tanks 
each  11  feet  deep,  with  a ratio  of  1 to  5.75  between  filtros  plates  and  surface 
area.  The  suspended  matter  which  varies  from  600  to  700  parts  per  million 
is  reduced  to  only  10  to  12  parts  per  million. 

Sixty-five  thousand  bushels  of  corn  per  day  are  used  at  the  Argo  plant. 

The  flow  in  the  Chicago  drainage  canal  is  7000  second-feet,  or  approxi- 
mately 2 second  feet  per  1000  population. 

48 


CHAPTER  18 
Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois 

This  plant  treats  the  sewage  of  approximately  3,000  soldiers,  and  consists 
of  a Doten  tank  and  sprinkling  filter  5 feet  deep.  The  filter  has  under  drains 
12  feet  apart  and  an  area  of  about  ^4  an  acre,  one-half  of  which  was  in  use  on 
day  of  visit.  The  sewage  is  domestic  and  amounts  to  about  400,000  gallons 
per  day.  A Sanborn  recorder  is  used  to  measure  the  flow.  It  was  noted  that 
some,  sprinklers  not  being  in  use,  the  head  at  these  points  was  about  6 feet. 


Sprinkling  Filters , Fort  Sheridan 


There  was  some  odor  on  the  beds.  The  filter  bed  effluent  has,  however, 
further  treatment  in  circular  secondary  tanks  and  then  discharged  into  Lake 
Michigan,  after  being  treated  with  24  to  28  pounds  of  chlorine  per  million 
gallons,  this  being  equivalent  to  three  parts  per  million.  Chlorine  costs  8c 
per  pound.  The  effluent  from  this  plant  is  very  clear  and  free  from  odor. 


Secondary  Tanks,  Fort  Sheridan 


49 


Great  Lakes  Naval  Station 


The  sewage  from  this  station  is  treated  through  a coagulating  plant  and 
then  by  a rapid  sand  filter,  the  beds  being  under  drained. 

On  day  of  my  visit  there  was  considerable  odor  in  the  effluent. 

CHAPTER  19 
Urbana,  Illinois 

The  population  of  Urbana  is  about  11,000.  The  State  of  Illinois  is  con- 
ducting in  Urbana  experimental  studies  with  the  sewage  of  the  adjoining  city 
of  Champaign,  which  has  a population  of  17,000.  This  sewage  is  screened  by 
a small  Dorrco  screen,  having  a diameter  of  about  4 feet  and  a face  of  7y2 
inches.  The  daily  capacity  of  this  screen  is  250,000  gallons.  The  slots  of 
the  screen  are  1/16  of  an  inch  by  an  inch,  are  parallel  to  the  direction  of 
flow,  and  comprise  26%  of  the  total  area  of  the  screen.  The  screenings 
amount  to  85  pounds  per  150,000  gallons  of  wet  sewage  and  contain  from  84 
to  88%  moisture.  After  screening,  the  sewage  is  carried  through  an  activated 
sludge  plant  of  the  Dorr-Peck  type  which  requires  7/10  of  a cubic  foot  of  air 
per  gallon  of  sewage. 


Southerly  Plant,  Houston 


CHAPTER  20 
Houston,  Texas 

This  city  has  140,000  population,  60%  of  which  are  served.  The  sewage 
is  mostly  separate  and  contains  400  parts  per  million  of  suspended  solids. 
The  sewage  is  pumped  to  two  treatment  plants,  known  as  the  North  Side  and 
South  Side  disposal  plants.  The  method  of  treatment  is  the  same  at  each 
location.  The  treatment  plant  consists  of  activated  sludge  units,  having  a 
capacity  of  2,500,000  gallons  per  day.  The  North  Side  plant  has  four  units 
and  the  South  Side  two  units.  Each  unit  consists  of  one  main  aerating  chan- 
nel 280  feet  long,  18  feet  wide  and  10  feet  deep,  and  ten  sedimentation  tanks 
about  22  feet  deep.  At  the  South  Side  plant  the  maximum  flow  is  8,500,000 
gallons  per  day,  the  minimum  3,500,000  gallons.  The  average  detention 
period  is  two  and  one-half  hours,  although  this  time  varies  from  one  and  a 
half  to  three  and  a half  hours.  The  filtros  plates  have  a ratio  of  1 square  foot 
to  each  7 square  feet  of  tank  surface.  The  South  Side  plant  was  completed 


50 


n January,  1918,  at  a cost  of  about  $115,000.00  and  the  North  Side  plant  was 
:ompleted  in  May,  1917,  at  a cost  of  about  $255,000.00. 

The  amount  of  seAvage  treated  at  the  North  Side  plant  averages  about  75 
gallons  per  capita,  or  a total  of  9,000,000  gallons  per  day,  and  the  effluent  at 
this  plant  has  a stability  of  92%.  95%  of  the  suspended  solids  are  removed. 

The  effluent  contains  an  average  of  4%  of  nitrates  and  12%  of  ammonia. 
The  cost  of  operation  at  the  North  Side  plant  averages  $11.10  per  million 
gallons,  whereas  the  cost  at  the  South  Side  plant  is  approximately  $10.80  per 
million  gallons. 

The  sludge  may  have  a value  of  $25.00  per  ton  and  weighs  80%  of  a ton 
per  million  gallons.  The  sludge  is  pressed  by  a Simplex  press  which  has  a 
pressure  of  100  to  145  pounds  per  square  inch.  113  presses  being  used.  The 
sludge  is  dried  by  a Buckeye  Type  “A”  Direct-Indirect  drier  which  reduces 
the  moisture  to  53j^%. 

The  Houston  plants  are  the  only  ones  in  the  United  States  which  have 
been  using  the  activated  sludge  method  of  treatment.  The  sludge  is  disposed 
of  by  lagooning,  which  does  not  create  a nuisance. 


51 


mm 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

m jail  21.  i m 


